In Brief

Biotech Co-Founded by TSRI’s Kerri Mowen Among ‘10 Start-Ups to Watch’

A biotech company co-founded by Kerri Mowen, assistant professor at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), has been named one of “10 Start-Ups to Watch” by Chemical & Engineering News (C&E) in its November 2 cover story. Covering a wide range of fields, the young companies are “all using groundbreaking chemistry to solve real-world problems,” according to the publication.

Mowen and Paul Thompson, a University of Massachusetts Medical School biochemist, founded Padlock Therapeutics in 2014 to develop small molecule treatments of autoimmune diseases, based on biological and structural insights of the PAD (protein arginine deiminase) family of enzymes. The biotech hopes to develop its first compound—likely a PAD4-selective allosteric inhibitor for lupus—for clinical testing in early 2017.

C&E’s picks are available on the publication’s website. For a list of TSRI’s more than 50 spin-off companies, see the institute’s website.

Katrin Karbstein to Speak at November 11 CA Faculty Lecture Series

Katrin Karbstein, associate professor in the Department of Cancer Biology at Scripps Florida, will be the featured speaker at the next Scripps California Faculty Lecture Series presentation on Wednesday, November 11. She will speak on “Quality control in 40S ribosome assembly.” The lecture will begin at 5 PM in the Timkin Amphitheater in the Green Hospital in La Jolla. A reception will follow in the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Building, first floor.

For further information, see Karbstein’s Faculty Lecture Series webpage. The series is supported by an endowment from the Cochrane-Cartan families, established by TSRI Professor Emeritus Charles G. Cochrane.

TSRI Hosts Austrian Science Institute Executives

A trio of visitors from the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria recently visited the Scripps California campus to learn about TSRI’s facilities and administration. Above, TSRI Professor Ulrich Müller (center right) takes IST Austria Managing Director Georg Schneider, President Thomas Henzinger and Vice President Michael Sixt (left to right) on a tour of the Dorris Neuroscience Center. (Photo by Cindy Brauer)

Remembering Daniel Williams: November 19

The TSRI community is invited to join family, friends and colleagues Thursday, November 19, in celebrating the life of the late Daniel Williams, graduate student in the Felding lab, who passed away in August after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. (See In Memoriam: Daniel Williams (1985-2015).)

The gathering will be held at 10 AM on the Hazen Plaza, where a tree will be planted in Williams’s memory. RSVP to the Office of Graduate Students, (858) 784-8469 or eastmond@scripps.edu by Thursday, November 12.

New Access to JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments

The Kresge Library is pleased to announce access to the three sections of JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments. JoVE is a protocol resource that shows experimental techniques through videos instead of print. The visual format can help increase reproducibility and cut down on the time it takes to learn new experimental procedures. Each video normally includes step-by-step instructions, a demo of equipment and reagents and a discussion of possible issues and modifications.

JoVE Biology is a diverse section that includes cellular biochemistry, physical biology, genetics, physiology, systems biology, molecular biology, organismal biology and eukaryotic and prokaryotic model systems.
JoVE Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary section whose primary emphasis is methods and techniques related to the structure, function, physiology and pathophysiology of the brain and nervous system.
JoVE Immunology and Infection is on trial access through 2016. Techniques deal with pathogens and therapeutic agents and range from the molecular to the organism level.

To date, seven TSRI investigators have authored JoVE videos. Other videos among the long list of contributors come from Harvard, Cornell, University of California San Diego, Johns Hopkins, National Institutes of Health and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. JoVE is indexed by PubMed, SciFinder and Scopus.

Kresge Library personnel hope TSRI researchers find this resource beneficial, and they encourage feedback at helplib@scripp.edu.

Bicoastal Workshop: Working Effectively

Managing priorities, expectations and time so you can work effectively on your doctoral research is the topic of a bicoastal career workshop scheduled for Monday, November 23.

Author and international instructor Jean luc Doumont will conduct the seminar, which will also cover how to develop desirable and achievable outcomes.

The session, presented by TSRI Career and Postdoctoral Services, will be held at Scripps Florida from 4 to 6 PM, Eastern time, in room A116, and live-streamed to Scripps California from 1 to 3 PM, Pacific time, in the Beckman building’s Keck Auditorium. Reservations are required.

Industry Bridge Program to Visit Illumina

The next Industry Bridge Program (IBP) destination is the San Diego corporate headquarters of Illumina, an international developer and manufacturer of life science tools and integrated systems for large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function. The IBP visit is scheduled for Thursday, November 19, from 1:30 to 5 PM.

Sponsored by the Scripps California Society of Fellows, IBP offers opportunities for TSRI postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to get an overview of industry facilities and careers, obtain industry exposure, network with industry scientists and learn how to effectively transition to industry.

Participant application procedures and registration details can be found at the IBP website. Registration closes Wednesday, October 11, at 5 PM.

CA Career Workshop: Interview Skills

An interview skills workshop for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students will be held Tuesday, November 17, from 3 to 4:30 PM, in the Graduate Office large conference room, first floor, Hazen Theory building.

Conducted by Jean Branan, Career and Postdoctoral Services program coordinator, the session will help participants strengthen effective verbal and nonverbal communications through videotaped mock interviews and feedback sessions based on standard HR-screening questions. Reservations are required.

CA Lunch & Learn: An Attitude of Gratitude

Can a grateful attitude lead to greater life happiness? The next Scripps California Lunch & Learn presentation will explore research that suggests the answer is “yes.” The session, “Why Thank You! The Many Gifts of Gratitude,” will be held Wednesday, November 18, noon to 1 PM, in the Beckman building’s Keck Amphitheater.

Daphne Lurie, director of the TSRI Office of Counseling and Psychological Services, will present the latest research on gratitude, the connection between personal well-being and gratitude, and ways to cultivate personal thankfulness.

Information on resources offered by Counseling and Psychological Services, including archived Lunch & Learn presentations, are available on the department’s website.

CA Onsite Clinic Scheduled November 18

The next onsite immunization clinic on the California campus will be held Wednesday, November 18, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, in the Hazen Theory building, rooms 203/205. Appointments are not needed.

Conducted by Sharp Rees-Stealy staff, the clinic will provide hepatitis B vaccination free of charge to all TSRI employees. Environmental Health & Safety Occupational Medicine must pre-authorize all other procedures based on the employee's working conditions. These procedures include tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines and other titers, immunizations and procedures.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

Faculty Club Welcomes Open House Visitors

The Faculty Club and Conference Center recently hosted an open house to acquaint current and prospective members and administrative personnel with the center’s facilities and catering services. Above, TSRI Professor Marisa Roberto (left) visits with Faculty Club Coordinator Nancy De Monte. (Photo by Madeline McCurry-Schmidt)

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